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'No option': 'Unacceptable' detail in Australia's South Africa withdrawal

Pictured here, Australian cricket captain Tim Paine and coach Justin Langer.
The Aussie Test squad's upcoming tour of South Africa has been cancelled due to Covid-19 risks. Pic: Getty

Cricket Australia (CA)'s interim chief executive Nick Hockley has explained in detail why the Aussie Test side simply had no choice but to scrap their upcoming tour of South Africa.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has been left incensed after CA announced on Tuesday that they would not be going through with the three-Test series which was due to start on the 3rd of March.

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The Aussies cited dangers associated around Covid-19 in South Africa - which reportedly has the highest number of deaths by the virus on the continent.

Latest figures indicate more than 1.4 million people have contracted the virus since the pandemic began, and more than 44,000 are known to have lost their lives, according to John Hopkins University research.

South Africa has been rocked by a deadly second wave of the virus that saw cases of Covid-19 soar to more than 20,000 people a day in early January.

Cases have since dropped to below 5,000 a day and restrictions have eased in the country.

However, the interim CA CEO said travelling to South Australia represented an "unacceptable" risk for the Aussie squad based on the medical advice they were given.

"We did offer to host the series here but Cricket South Africa made that very clear that they have got lots of other commitments and with quarantine periods and the like, that just wasn't feasible," Hockley told reporters on Wednesday.

"I don't think Cricket South Africa could have done any more ... in terms of biosecurity arrangements.

"Firstly, South Africa, very sadly, hit the peak of their second (coronavirus) wave.

"And secondly, they have got the more virulent strain which there is still lots of unknowns around that.

"As we worked through the residual risk and also some questions and challenges if we were to get a case, how and when we could our players back home.

"Putting health and safety absolutely number one, we were really left with no option."

Cricket South Africa's director of cricket Graeme Smith said Australia's concerns were unfounded.

"We are extremely disappointed by the decision of CA," Smith said in a statement.

"CSA has been working tirelessly in recent weeks to ensure that we meet every single expectation of CA. So to be informed about the CA decision at the eleventh hour is frustrating."

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CSA's acting chief executive officer Pholetsi Moseki said the organisation had already incurred significant costs while preparing for the Australia tour.

"In this challenging period for cricket and its member countries, we believe the stance taken by CA is regrettable and will have a serious impact on the sustainability of the less wealthy cricket playing nations," he said.

Hockley flatly refuted suggestions finances played a part in the decision, given Australia had played cash cows England and India since the outbreak of coronavirus.

The postponement cruels Australia's chances of earning a spot in the world Test championship but Hockley ruled out appealing to the ICC for dispensation given the circumstances.

Pictured here, South Africa's director of cricket Graeme Smith speaks to media.
South Africa's director of cricket Graeme Smith hit out at Cricket Australia for postponing the upcoming tour. Pic: Getty

"We knew all the rules going in," he said.

"That is what has made this decision really, really hard."

New Zealand are in the box seat to secure one of the spots, while the four-Test series between India and England will determine who snares the other spot.

Hockley said Australia's T20 squad for the of New Zealand would remain unchanged, with no Test players included.

And coach Justin Langer, who was due to go to South Africa with the Test team, wouldn't coach the T20 outfit in New Zealand.

with AAP

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